A new publication, Queensland's Young People 1996, was officially launched today by the Honourable Minister for Families Youth and Community Care, Anna Bligh, and Mr Brian Doyle, Queensland Regional Director for the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

The publication was prepared by the ABS for the National Youth Affairs Research Scheme and used 1996 Census data to provide a unique insight into 12 to 25 year olds in Queensland. It compares Queensland's young people with the rest of the nation, and provides summary data on young people for all local government areas in Queensland.Among the publication's key findings are that:

In Queensland, 12 to 25 year olds represented 21% of people counted. This was slightly more than the National figure. Over 64% of all young people in Queensland were counted in the Brisbane and Moreton Statistical Divisions.

From 1986 to 1996 the population in Queensland grew by 29%. This was the highest growth rate of all states and territories. The proportion of young people declined down from 24% to 21% over the same period.

Among all people counted in Queensland there were more females than males. This is reversed for young people where the number of males exceeds the number of females.

Young Queenslanders had 3.9% of young people report as being of Indigenous origin. This was much greater than the National figure of 2.7% and much higher than the proportion of those aged 26 years and over (1.8%).

The main originating countries of young people born overseas were New Zealand (over 28%), the United Kingdom (15%), Papua New Guinea (6%), and Taiwan (4%). Queensland had the highest proportion of young people born in New Zealand of all States and Territories and well above the National figure of 12%.

About 56% of 12 to 25 year olds were still living with their parents, 39% reported as dependent children (under 15 years) or dependent students (aged 15 to 24 years). This was slightly lower than the National figure of 42%. The remaining 17% were living with their parents as non-dependent children.

A higher proportion (28%) of young people in Queensland were living independently than in any other State or Territory. This includes people living as couples, lone parents, members of a group household and lone persons.

From 1991 to 1996 the proportion of young people attending an educational institution increased from 48% in 1991 to almost 50% in 1996.

Between 1991 and 1996, the proportion of 15 to 25 year olds who were working part-time increased from 16% to 21%.

Details are inQueensland's Young People 1996(cat. no. 4123.3) available in ABS bookshops. Main features of the publication are available from this site.

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